EXCLUSIVE First Review! BATMAN ’66 Bendables!

NJ Croce‘s terrific Batman ’66 line is almost out — and we have an advance review!

Box o’ Batswag!

Every fan of retro superhero toys talks about the 8-inch Megos from 1970s kidhood. I’m among them. But there was also the company’s oft-forgotten Bend ‘N Flex line.

These were most of the same characters on the same card styles, but shrunk down and done up in flexible rubber.

I dug ’em. If memory serves me right, I had Batman, the Riddler, Aquaman and Captain America. Maybe Spidey. I don’t think I had Robin. Perhaps Superman. For reasons I can’t explain, I’m hazy on this, which is weird considering just how sharp my memory is about so many other things. (H/T to the Mego Museum for the pix.)

No matter. This is all a roundabout way of getting to NJ Croce’s Batman ’66 bendable figures, which are going to be in stores within the next few weeks — but which I now have in my hot little hands! (Plus, people coming to the NEW YORK COMIC FEST tomorrow will have a chance to win the boxed sets! DETAILS HERE!)

Anyway, these are the bendies I would have begged and pleaded for when I was Li’l Dan — and I’m really, really happy that I live in a time where I can get them.

Because it really is extraordinary just how these rubber figures can so accurately depict Adam West, Burt Ward, Julie Newmar, Cesar Romero and Burgess Meredith!

BEHOLD, CITIZENS!

Check out the wrinkly knees! The body types!

And they are all in scale with one another!

And take an up-close look at Batman and Catwoman — those likenesses are striking, especially given the restrictions of this type of item.

It just makes me wanna shout “ZLONK!”

So I will!

Plus! There are also Batman, Robin and, yes, Batmobile keychains that are even smaller scale.

I can’t really explain why these give me such a warm feeling. Maybe it’s how basic they are. Maybe it’s that bendable figures are inherently a little goofy, which makes me smile.

Whatever it is, these are a fantastic addition to the ever-growing Batman ’66 line of merch!